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Brickell City Centre: 17 Images Of WOW!

by lee klein on Fri Nov 11 2016

Brickell City Centre, downtown Miami’s dazzling entry into the 21st century, opened for business last week and didn’t disappoint. The $1.05 billion mixed-use project is anchored by three floors (500,000 square feet) of retail and restaurant offerings and two levels of underground parking(2,600 spaces). The property is being developed by Swire Properties, and includes the 40-story EAST, Miami (which opened in May), two residential towers (Rise and Reach), and two mid-rise office buildings. Over the next 10 years, the final two phases of Brickell City Centre will be constructed – including a 1,049-foot super-tall condo tower.

So far only a dozen or so of the businesses have opened, but anchor tenant Saks Fifth Avenue is up and running with a 107,550-square-foot store. The rest of the shops and eateries (88 are currently under construction) are rushing to complete their space in time for the holiday season. “Anywhere from four to 10 stores will open on a weekly basis,” says Swire President Stephen Owens.

The visual centerpiece of this LEED Gold-certified property is the Climate Ribbon, a $30 million elevated trellis that spans 150,000 feet over three city blocks of BCC. The Ribbon, composed of steel, fabric, and a continuous glass surface, protects visitors from rain in the open-air shopping center, but also captures sea breezes to regulate air flow and temperature and collects rainwater for reuse. Plus it permits the enormous space to be illuminated by natural light in the open air -- brilliant concept by the architecture folks that designed BCC, local Miami favorites Arquitectonica.

The first shopping level will feature luxury shops such as Armani Collezioni, Chopard and Kiton, and the Casa Tua Food Hall (due this spring or summer), which will proffer great Italian food to eat on-site – and serve as a market as well. Cole Haan is open, and I’ve already got my eyes on a pair of blue suede shoes there.

Premium and contemporary retailers will occupy the second and third floors; the latter level will likewise showcase restaurants and bars such as American Harvest; Big Easy Winebar & Grill; Dr. Smood; Häagen-Dazs; Pasión del Cielo; Pubbelly Sushi; the Casa Tua resto bar; and Luke’s Lobster. Not sure who Luke is, but the “Lobster” part of the name sure sounds promising. Quinto la Huella is already going strong at East, as is Sugar, the very cool rooftop lounge.

Other highlights: Apple will be opening its largest Florida outlet, and Cinemex aims to have the dine-in CMX theater up in time for the holidays.